I am reading UA for the second time & Ridcully has given an urchin 2 Dollars to scarper after Ridcully kicked the urchins can into the crowd. I can't remember anywhere in any of the books an explanation as to how Wizards get paid? Where does their money come from?

huge_vermin wrote:plus in UA the wizards driving reason for playing is to preserve a bequest by a dead wizards trust organisation.....how many old wizards must have left there finances to the university in some form?

hi, thanks for the welcome. as raptor mentions there are also the unreal estates which the wizards must be collecting rent on as it is mentioned in THE TRUTH that mr pin and tulip go and buy a dis-organiser from a shop on the estate.

"Double-Blind experiment, N:An experiment in which the Chief Researcher believes he isFooling both the subject and the lab assistant. Often accompanied by a belief in the Tooth Fairy."

I think raptornx01 and huge_vermin have it right - The University has been there so long that it owns large swathes of property all over the city. In the modern city, quite a lot of that is rented out (Unreal Estate included), and that is probably where a lot of the University's money comes from. Plus, considering that up until recently they didn't pay taxes[1] meant they have several hundred if not thousands of years worth of accumulated wealth just sitting there. After all their biggest expense would be food and drink, and possibly building repair. I'm not certain any of the Wizards actually get more than the merest stipend despite their tenure, because all meals, accommodation, research materials and coal[2] is provided to them as part of that tenure. If an individual wizard has their own savings, what would they spend it on? Most things they need they get from the University within the University walls, and it's only stuff out in the city or the wider world that would cost things, and I'm sure any reasonable expense request would be approved by the Bursar (assuming he is bribed with enough Dried Frog Pills)

[1] Okay, technically the University still does not pay taxes, but it does make an entirely voluntary donation to the city amounting to $200 per capita per annum, under the kind agreement of Lord Vetinari. (I can't remember the exact book this is referenced in, but you'll know it if you find it)

[2] seven buckets in the case of Rincewind (see The Science of Discworld 2, I think)

Nullus Anxietas V - The Australian Discworld Convention10-12 April 2015Novotel Parramatta, New South Wales, Australiahttp://ausdwcon.org

As for pocket money (for things like visiting the clicks (MP), going to the Mended Drum (Sourcery), or visiting a concert or coffee house (SM), etc., some of them have their own (Windle Poons) while others know the location of the general fund mentioned in one of the meetings in UA. I imagine their major personal expenses involve new sparkly decorations for their robes and hats (TLF), while funds for research materials come out of university coffers (Hogfather, TSoD).

I wonder if this is like the system that was common with the upper classes in Britain during the Regency period. The eldest son would inherit, the second would be bought a rank in the military and any other sons would end up in the Church etc. Wellington, for example, didn't inherit his father's title, his eldest brother did. But Wellington ended up outranking his elder brother considerably.

We know that Ridcully seems to have inherited his father's lands and that his brother is in the Church, presumably both got a stipend from their father's estate while they were studying.

Nowadays, Universities get money by charging students, owning property, and making money from research. It's not uncommon for parents of students to contribute large sums of money for new buildings or trusts, or for alumni to donate (I get asked, but I don't donate). I should imagine that the big two get most of their money from property, since when I lived in Cambridge someone told me the Uni owns almost everything between Cambridge & London.

Individual members of staff get paid a salary, but don't get a cut of the riches. But now they'll let anyone work in a Uni, provided they have the qualifications (standards are slipping), whereas beforehand only rich dudes did, so their chairs may well have been honorary or emeritus based on research output (they give you an office but no money).

So, um, I don't know. Fees, rents, trusts, is my best bet.

What's up with this glass? Excuse me? Excuse me? This is my glass? I don't think so. My glass was full! And it was a bigger glass!